Parallax by Ankur Kalra

In this insightful episode of Parallax, Dr Ankur Kalra explores the emerging field of cardiac epigenetics with Dr Manuel Rosa-Garrido, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Their conversation examines how the three-dimensional organization of DNA within the cell nucleus influences heart disease development beyond traditional genetic sequencing.

Dr Rosa-Garrido shares his pioneering work using Hi-C technology to map genome structure, revealing that DNA arrangement plays a crucial role in cardiac pathology. The discussion covers key concepts including chromatin loops, topologically associating domains, and compartmentalization—explaining how these structures regulate gene expression and how their disruption contributes to cardiovascular disease.

The episode explores practical implications for clinical practice, from early biomarker identification to potential CRISPR-based therapies that could target chromatin structure. Dr Rosa-Garrido outlines how this research could transform cardiovascular care within the next decade, offering new approaches to both inherited cardiomyopathies and environmentally-influenced conditions like atherosclerosis.

Valuable insights for cardiologists interested in precision medicine and the evolving understanding of how genetic architecture influences cardiovascular risk and treatment strategies.

Questions and comments can be sent to "[email protected]" and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Host: @AnkurKalraMD and produced by: @RadcliffeCardio

Parallax is Ranked in the Top 100 Health Science Podcasts (#48) by Million Podcasts.

In this essential episode of Parallax, Dr Ankur Kalra is joined by Dr Michelle O'Donoghue, cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and co-author of the recently updated AHA/ACC acute coronary syndrome guidelines. Together, they explore the revolutionary changes reshaping ACS management in 2025.

Dr O'Donoghue shares insights from the landmark guideline development process that unified non-ST elevation ACS and ST elevation MI recommendations into a single comprehensive document. The conversation covers game-changing updates including new risk stratification approaches, the shift toward selective invasive strategies, and the introduction of bivalirudin as an alternative anticoagulation option.

The discussion highlights the groundbreaking "lower is better" approach to LDL management with new targets below 55 mg/dL, evolving antiplatelet therapy strategies, and the emerging role of ticagrelor monotherapy. Dr O'Donoghue also addresses future directions in cardiovascular care, from GLP-1 agonists to mechanical circulatory support devices, emphasizing how these guidelines represent a fundamental shift toward more personalized, evidence-based ACS management.

Questions and comments can be sent to "[email protected]" and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode.

Host: @AnkurKalraMD and produced by: @RadcliffeCardio

Parallax is Ranked in the Top 100 Health Science Podcasts (#48) by Million Podcasts.

In this profound episode of Parallax, Dr Ankur Kalra welcomes Dr Pam Taub, Professor of Medicine and Director of Preventive Cardiology at UC San Diego, for an enlightening conversation about integrating spirituality, purpose, and scientific curiosity in cardiovascular practice.

Dr Taub shares her unique philosophical foundation, shaped by exposure to diverse religions in South India. This experience fostered her belief that all faiths fundamentally center on being a good person and serving others. She explores how this spiritual perspective transforms medicine from a profession into a sacred calling, where patient interactions become profound privileges that fuel her desire to make meaningful impact beyond individual achievements.

The episode highlights Dr Taub's groundbreaking work with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), demonstrating how scientific curiosity serves as a spiritual path. Her research journey—from recognizing misdiagnosed conditions to conducting the first clinical trial for ivabradine in POTS—exemplifies how deeper questioning and evidence-based inquiry can transform patient lives on a broader scale. The episode also explores Dr Taub's research on time-restricted eating, connecting modern scientific evidence to fasting practices across many faiths.

Questions and comments can be sent to "[email protected]" and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Host: @AnkurKalraMD and produced by: @RadcliffeCardio

Parallax is Ranked in the Top 100 Health Science Podcasts (#48) by Million Podcasts.

In this insightful episode of Parallax, Dr Ankur Kalra is joined by Dr Leslie Saxon, a professor of medicine at Keck School of Medicine USC and executive director for the USC Center for Body Computing. Together, they explore the potential network data have in transforming healthcare delivery and patient survival.

Beginning with the origin and aim of the USC Center for Body Computing, the episode dives into the benefits of a network of connected implantable devices to engage patients in their own care. Dr Saxon also shares her vision of overseeing "life care” as well as "sick care" by collecting data on the mind and body, providing insights into her work with professional athletes and the military to understand how the body functions as a system. The discussion later turns to the evolution of computing devices and how we are moving past the concept of "wearables" with AI-centric devices designed specifically for continuous health monitoring.

In this inspiring episode of Parallax, Dr Ankur Kalra engages with Dr Srihari S. Naidu, current President of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) and tenured professor at New York Medical College. Their conversation explores Dr Naidu's compelling journey from his formative years and family influences to his strategic vision for elevating interventional cardiology's national profile.

Dr Naidu shares his innovative "LINK" philosophy—Leadership, Innovation, Networking, and Knowledge—which has guided his approach to medicine and leadership. The discussion delves into SCAI's remarkable growth in education, publications, and advocacy under his stewardship, while addressing the critical need to increase public understanding of interventional cardiologists' life-saving contributions to healthcare.

The conversation offers valuable insights on career progression in medicine, exploring the delicate balance between knowledge and wisdom across different career stages. Dr Naidu provides thoughtful perspectives on the "sweet spot" of mid-career practice, the importance of cross-generational learning, and SCAI's commitment to fostering diversity by removing barriers for women and underrepresented groups in the field.

Essential listening for cardiologists at all career stages, healthcare leaders, and those interested in the evolving landscape of interventional cardiology and its impact on patient care and public health.

Buy the SCAI Cap here. (https://shop.scai.org/)

Questions and comments can be sent to "[email protected]" and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Host: @AnkurKalraMD and produced by: @RadcliffeCardio

Parallax is Ranked in the Top 100 Health Science Podcasts (#48) by Million Podcasts.

In this compelling episode of Parallax, Dr Ankur Kalra explores South Asian cardiovascular health with preventive cardiology experts, Dr Jaideep Patel from Johns Hopkins, and Dr Romit Bhattacharya from Massachusetts General Hospital.

The conversation begins with both specialists sharing personal motivations behind their focus on South Asian heart health, from family losses to scientific curiosity about potential genetic and metabolic distinctions. They examine whether South Asians truly face different cardiovascular risks - discussing observations of earlier disease onset, unique lipid patterns, and metabolic dysfunction at lower BMIs - while emphasizing that fundamental prevention strategies remain effective across populations.

The episode culminates with powerful closing insights on prevention as an investment—how small, consistent lifestyle modifications can prevent cardiovascular disease onset even in those with genetic predispositions, ultimately enabling fuller, more functional lives in later years.

Questions and comments can be sent to "[email protected]" and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Host: @AnkurKalraMD and produced by: @RadcliffeCARDIO

In this illuminating episode of Parallax, Dr Ankur Kalra engages with Dr Jonathan Drezner, Director of Sports Cardiology at the University of Washington, who explores the complex world of cardiovascular risk in competitive athletes.

Dr Drezner traces the evolution of sports cardiology from watershed moments involving high-profile athletes like Hank Gathers and Reggie Lewis to today's sophisticated screening protocols. The conversation reveals startling statistics about sudden cardiac death—particularly among specific athlete populations where risks are significantly higher than previously thought.

The discussion delves into the limitations of traditional screening questionnaires versus the enhanced detection capabilities of ECG testing, highlighting how proper interpretation has dramatically reduced false positives. Dr Drezner articulates the shift from universal disqualification to personalized risk assessment for athletes with cardiac conditions, emphasizing the critical elements of effective emergency action plans that can mean the difference between life and death on the playing field.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into both common and rare cardiac conditions affecting athletes, from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to anomalous coronary arteries, while understanding the three pillars of modern sports cardiology: epidemiology, screening, and management. This episode offers essential knowledge for cardiologists, sports medicine physicians, and other healthcare professionals involved in athlete cardiac care.

Questions and comments can be sent to “[email protected]” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Host: @AnkurKalraMD and produced by: @RadcliffeCARDIO

Parallax is Ranked in the Top 100 Health Science Podcasts (#48) by Million Podcasts: https://www.radcliffecardiology.com/news/parallax-podcast-ankur-kalra-recognised-among-top-medical-podcasts?language_content_entity=en

In this episode of Parallax, host Dr Ankur Kalra sits down with Dr Ambarish Pandey to explore the transformative role of GLP-1 receptor agonists in cardiovascular medicine. Beyond their well-known effects on weight management, Dr Pandey reveals how these "blockbuster drugs" are fundamentally reshaping cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment, with compelling evidence from the landmark SELECT trial.

The discussion navigates through real-world clinical scenarios where GLP-1s deliver significant cardiovascular benefits, from post-acute coronary events to established atherosclerotic disease. Dr Pandey provides nuanced, evidence-based recommendations for GLP-1 therapy across various heart failure phenotypes, while addressing common comorbidities like atrial fibrillation and obstructive sleep apnea.

Recognizing practical challenges, the conversation offers actionable strategies for medication initiation, dose optimization, and navigating insurance hurdles. The episode concludes with an exciting look toward emerging frontiers, including GLP-1 benefits in chronic kidney disease and innovative metabolic accelerators that could complement existing therapies.

For clinicians seeking to optimize cardio-metabolic care in 2025, this discussion provides essential insights into both current best practices and promising therapeutic horizons.

Disclosures: Dr Ambarish Pandey is a consultant for Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Roche, and Rivus Pharma.

Questions and comments can be sent to “[email protected]” and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Host: @AnkurKalraMD and produced by: @RadcliffeCARDIO

Parallax is Ranked in the Top 100 Health Science Podcasts (#48) by Million Podcasts: https://www.radcliffecardiology.com/news/parallax-podcast-ankur-kalra-recognised-among-top-medical-podcasts?language_content_entity=en

Join Dr Ankur Kalra on Parallax as he explores the evolving landscape of precision medicine in cardiology with Dr Calum MacCrae, Vice Chair for Scientific Innovation at Brigham and Women’s Heart and Vascular Center.

Dr MacCrae reflects on how the promise of matching treatments to individual risk and disease mechanisms has evolved, from its roots in molecular medicine to today’s data-driven aspirations, revealing why progress has lagged behind expectations. The discussion dissects the complexities of modern cardiology, challenging assumptions about therapeutic precision by examining barriers like incomplete disease understanding, flawed electronic health records, and the high cost of integrating biomarkers into practice.

Listeners will value Dr MacCrae’s incisive breakdown of precision medicine’s ecosystem, and how innovations at each level could redefine treatment strategies. The episode delivers practical insights for clinicians, while posing critical questions about how systemic inertia and fragmented healthcare delivery can impede meaningful change.

This week's edition of Parallax features an illuminating conversation between host, Dr Ankur Kalra, and Dr Clif Knight. From practicing family physician to passionate advocate for systemic change, Dr Knight's remarkable career journey provides a unique lens through which to examine physician well-being in contemporary healthcare environments.

Dr Knight shares how his early observations of colleagues struggling without adequate support systems sparked his dedication to addressing the fundamental inefficiencies and structural barriers undermining physician resilience. The discussion examines how the healthcare landscape has evolved over generations, challenging simplistic narratives about millennial physicians' susceptibility to burnout by contextualizing how documentation burdens, technological implementations, and regulatory frameworks have created unprecedented complexity.

Listeners will appreciate Dr Knight's nuanced analysis of the physician ecosystem's five distinct levels and how interventions at each stage—from organizational leadership priorities to individual behavioural practices—can meaningfully enhance well-being. The episode offers actionable insights for healthcare professionals seeking to recalibrate their relationship with medical practice, while also raising important questions about how commercial influences in healthcare delivery may affect both physician autonomy and patient care.

For anyone interested in sustainable healthcare systems that support both practitioners and patients, this discussion provides essential perspective on rebuilding resilience at personal and institutional levels.

Resources:

Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience, National Academy of Medicine (https://nam.edu/our-work/programs/clinician-resilience-and-well-being/)

Taking Action Against Clinician Burnout: A Systems Approach to Professional Well-Being, National Academy of Medicine (https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25521/taking-action-against-clinician-burnout-a-systems-approach-to-professional)

Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program, AMA ASSN (https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/joy-medicine-health-system-recognition-program)